Putting guide



July 11, 1961 F. D. LOCKHART PUTTING GUIDE Filed Oct. 29, 1958 IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent '0 2,992,005 PUTTING GUIDE Frank David.Lockhart,.Santa .Clara, Calif. (3250 Webster St., Apt. 12, San Francisco 23, Calif.) Filed Oct. 29, 1958, Ser. No. 770,560 3 Claims. (Cl. 273-183) The present invention relates to golf instruction devices and more particularly to a putting guide which can be utilized as an aid for instruction in the art of putting.

It is notable that golfers, both amateur and professional, usually obtain with practice, a relatively high degree of proficiency and consistency in the execution of mos-t golf shots, but remain, in spite of practice, inconsistent in their putting accuracy. As a consequence, putting has become the critical and usually decisive factor in the great majority of golf matches.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a putting guide through whose utilization a sound basic putting stroke can be established with a minimum of practice and with maximum efficacy.

More particularly, it is a feature of the invention to provide a putting guide enabling both directional and distance requirements for putting to be learned with relative ease.

Another feature is the provision of a putting guide which in use will visually indicate any error in an established put-ting stroke so that correction can be made.

A further feature is the precise structure of the putting guide such that it can be used on a putting green or on an indoor carpet.

Yet another feature is the simple construction of the putting guide which renders it a unit that can be manufactured inexpensively even though it be strong and wear resistant.

T-hese as well as other objects and features of the invention will become more apparent from a perusal of the following description of the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a putting guide embodying the present invention and shown in use on a putting green,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the putting guide together with a diagrammatic representation of the proper ball and putter position relative thereto, and

FIG. 3 is a central sectional view taken along line 33 in FIG. 2.

Generally, a putting guide constructed in accordance with the present invention includes a thin sheet that can be placed on the green or other putting surface G adjacent the ball B, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 so that the blade of the putter P during the swing passes over such sheet. Appropriate markings on the sheet are disposed in desired relationship to the hole H in the green wherefore the golfer can notice the relationship of the putter blade to such markings during the execution of such putting stroke and thus determine direction and distance requirements.

In its preferred form, as shown best in FIGS. 2 and 3, the putting guide includes a thin, opaque sheet 12 of resilient plastic material, approximately 0.010 inch in thickness, having a rectangular outline with overall dimensions of 16 inches by 4 inches. In one end of the opaque sheet, a rectangular notch 14 of approximately 1 /2 inches by 4 inches is formed for accommodation of a golf ball B therein when the sheet is placed on a putting surface. From the center of such notch 14, a direction line 16 extends substantially centrally of the rectangular sheet to the remote end thereof and a plurality of distance lines 18 intersect such direction line at intervals of approximately 1 inch, these distance lines 18 being parallel to one another and disposed precisely at right angles to the "ice described direction line 16. An arrow 20 is also marked on the sheet adjacent the notch 14 to indicate the desired position for placement of the ball B.

Preferably, as best shown by reference to FIG. 3, the described opaque sheet 12 is covered on both its upper and lower surfaces with similarly shaped sheets 22 and 24 of transparent and resilient plastic material, these upper and lower protective sheets being sealed at their edges to preclude deterioration by contact with water or any other material. These transparent plastic sheets 22, 24 are also thin, being approximately 0.010 inch thick so that the thickness of the entire guide is no more than 0.030 of an inch so that when placed upon a putting surface, no interference of the normal swing of the putting blade will be encountered.

Adjacent the periphery of the putting guide, small holes 26 are formed for the reception of tacks or small nails 28 which enable the guide to be removably fixed in position on a putting surface, whether it be the actual putting green or a carpet in the home.

In use on a fiat putting surface, the putting guide is placed at a desired distance from the hole H with the direction line '16 thereof precisely aligned with such hole, as shown in FIG. 1. The tacks or small nails 28 are then inserted to maintain the putting guide in position and the ball B is then placed in the notch adjacent the arrow 20 whereupon the device is ready for use to indicate the desired characteristic of the putting stroke.

It is known that maintenance of the striking surface of the putter P at right angles to the direction which the ball is to follow is absolutely essential during the entire swing of the putting blade. It is also desirable that the putting blade P follow a straight line during the stroke. If the putting stroke is executed over the putting guide, any deviation from either of these desirable characteristics of the stroke can be readily noticed by the golfer merely by glancing at the direction and distance lines 16 and 18 marked on the putting guide. It is easy to notice the stroke characteristics, since the golfer is standing substantially directly over the putting guide, and in looking down at the ball B, also must observe the adjacent markings on the put-ting guide. Any deviation of the putter from the direction line 16 can be observed, and also any turning of the putter blade P can be seen by its relation to one of the distance lines 18 on the guide. It will be noted that these distance lines are also marked on the putting guide beyond the initial position of the ball B so that any turning of the putting blade immediately after striking the ball will also be a noticeable effect.

Since the distance lines 18 are at regularly spaced intervals, the desired amount of back swing for a particular distance of putt can be ascertained readily. For example, the position of the putting blade at diagrammatic position P in FIG. 2 is substantially that requisite for the execution of a 4-foot putt, while the disposition of the putter shown at P" is that requisite for a 8-foot putt. Individual putting strokes may vary but the distance lines 18 may still be used to indicate, with continued use, the back swing requirements for a particular putt for any individual golfer.

Various modifications and/or alterations can obviously be made in the described structure without departing from the spirit of the invention, and consequently, the foregoing description of such preferred embodiment is to be considered as purely exemplary and not in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention is to be indicated by reference to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A putting guide which comprises a thin, generally rectangular opaque sheet having a rectangular notch in the center of one end thereof, a direction line marked on r 2,992,005 a P s 7 3 4 said sheet and extending centrally from said notch to the opaque sheet is of a width such that said distance lines are remote end of said sheet, a plurality of parallel distance each longer than the blade of a putter.

lines extending across said sheet at regularly spaced intervals and at right angles to said direction line, and a References Cited in the file of this patent pair of thin {transparent sheets on opposite sides of said 5 opaque sheet and sealed at their edge junotures. UNITED STATES PATENTS 2. A putting guide according to claim 1 wherein said 2,461,601 Hendricks Feb. 15, 1949 rectangular notch is wider than the diameter of a golf 2,707,638 Manley May 3, 1955 ball. 2,750,195 Ghing June 12, 1956 f 3. A putting guide according to claim 1 wherein said 10 

